December Plans and Memories in a TN

Hello creatives! Leah here with you on the blog today. I’ve started setting up my December TN using a blend of the Freezin’ Season and Merry & Bright collections. In my previous December Daily projects (learn more about this memory-keeping project started by Ali Edwards here), I have typically stuck to a more traditional Christmas color scheme. This year, I wanted to blend in some less conventional colors like those in the Freezin’ Season collection. This collection is designed to have more of a general winter theme, which fits the wintry season but doesn’t have as many holiday sentiments as the Merry & Bright collection, so I’ve decided to blend both collections for my December setup. Both collections have softer blues, greens, and reds which makes it easier to mix and match pieces from each.

I’m using the Typewriter Circles Traveler’s Notebook to house a couple of inserts this year. One will function as my December Daily album and the other is where I’m keeping all my notes and plans throughout the holiday season. I like keeping these two notebooks in one place because I often find that the planning and lists I make during December can often be easily incorporated into the story I’m telling that day from a memory-keeping perspective in the December Daily.

I’ve prettied up my TN pockets and December Daily cover using primarily the Freezin’ Season collection. I used some of the cards from the 3x4 Elements 12x12 paper, lots of die cuts from the Bits and Pieces pack, and a few chipboard stickers.

I learned last year that trying to do a December Daily album in a TN introduces a fun challenge in trying to be mindful not to add too much dimension. Otherwise it can get very difficult to close the notebook before the end of the month. One of the tricks I like to use when I want to add the illusion of dimension without adding extra bulk is adding hand drawn borders around some of the décor pieces. In particular, if you are layering a light colored element over another light colored element, you can establish some contrast by drawing a black border around the front piece. This gives an effect that the front piece is popping up away from the background slightly and therefore adding more dimension. I have also found that adding borders to loose or “floating” layers can really help anchor them and make the finished project feel more finished – but then again, that could just be part of my style and preference. I love the handmade look of doodled borders.

Bonus clip (literally)… I used a few scraps leftover from pocket pieces I had trimmed down to make this adorable clip!

On the front cover of my December Daily insert, I had so much fun adding lots of layers and texture because the cover is one of the few pages of my December Daily where I don’t have to worry about the bulk preventing the album from closing. I used the black and white side of the “Snowed In” 12x12 Paper from the Freezin’ Season collection as my background. I added some watercolor paint to my background and then went over it with a layer of white gesso to soften the colors so they blended into the background more instead of competing with the décor I planned to add on top.

For the next few layers, I added a doily and a tag I made using some of the Freezin’ Season patterned papers. I then started layering in die cuts, chipboard stickers, and several stickers from the Freezin’ Season Combo Sticker Sheet. I made sure to tuck the smaller pieces over, under, and in between the doily and tag layers to give more texture and visual interest.

Inside my December Daily insert, I’ve used one of the free December printables available this month on the Simple Stories website. The countdown one is perfect to kick off my December Daily. The chipboard wreath I’m using to count down is a sticker but I left the sticker backing on it and then added repositionable double-sided tape so I can move it around. I’ve used items mostly from the Merry & Bright collection to decorate the inside cover of the insert. You can see how the Merry & Bright collection has a lot of those softer green and red hues that I also love in the Freezin’ Season collection. I am planning to type up my “Reason Why” and add it to this page.

What is your favorite seasonal collection from Simple Stories this year? Are you using it in your planner or to document memories, or both? Tag me on Instagram if you’re participating in December Daily this year. I truly love seeing how others plan and document the holiday season. Stay tuned on all the Simple Stories and Carpe Diem Planners social media channels for lots more creative inspiration to inspire your holiday season!